The Syrian president has left Damascus on a plane for an unknown destination, two senior Syrian army officers have told the Reuters news agency.
Hours earlier, rebels announced they had gained complete control of the key city of Homs after only a day of fighting.
Their lightning offensive threatens to end Bashar al Assad’s 24-year rule.
Thousands of Syrians, in cars and on foot, have congregated at a main square in the city chanting for freedom, according to Reuters.
In Homs, thousands of residents poured onto the streets after the army withdrew from the city, dancing and chanting “Assad is gone, Homs is free” and “Long live Syria and down with Bashar al Assad”.
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